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army to be of good courage； and went round about the city； with
the senate following them； and when the priests had only blown
with the trumpets； for they did nothing more at all； they
returned to the camp。 And when they had done this for six days；
on the seventh Joshua gathered the armed men and all the people
together； and told them these good tidings； That the city should
now be taken； since God would on that day give it them； by the
falling down of the walls； and this of their own accord； and
without their labor。 However； he charged them to kill every one
they should take； and not to abstain from the slaughter of their
enemies； either for weariness or for pity； and not to fall on the
spoil； and be thereby diverted from pursuing their enemies as
they ran away； but to destroy all the animals； and to take
nothing for their own peculiar advantage。 He commanded them also
to bring together all the silver and gold； that it might be set
apart as first…fruits unto God out of this glorious exploit； as
having gotten them from the city they first took； only that they
should save Rahab and her kindred alive； because of the oath
which the spies had sworn to her。
6。 When he had said this； and had set his army in order； be
brought it against the city： so they went round the city again；
the ark going before them； and the priests encouraging the people
to be zealous in the work； and when they had gone round it seven
times； and had stood still a little； the wall fell down； while no
instruments of war； nor any other force； was applied to it by the
Hebrews。
7。 So they entered into Jericho； and slew all the men that were
therein； while they were aftrighted at the surprising overthrow
of the walls； and their courage was become useless； and they were
not able to defend themselves； so they were slain； and their
throats cut； some in the ways； and others as caught in their
houses； nothing afforded them assistance； but they all perished；
even to the women and the children； and the city was filled with
dead bodies； and not one person escaped。 They also burnt the
whole city； and the country about it； but they saved alive Rahab；
with her family； who had fled to her inn。 And when she was
brought to him； Joshua owned to her that they owed her thanks for
her preservation of the spies： so he said he would not appear to
be behind her in his benefaction to her； whereupon he gave her
certain lands immediately； and had her in great esteem ever
afterwards。
8。 And if any part of the city escaped the fire； he overthrew it
from the foundation； and he denounced a curse （3）against its
inhabitants； if any should desire to rebuild it； how； upon his
laying the foundation of the walls； he should be deprived of his
eldest son； and upon finishing it； he should lose his youngest
son。 But what happened hereupon we shall speak of hereafter。
9。 Now there was an immense quantity of silver and gold； and
besides those of brass also； that was heaped together out of the
city when it was taken； no one transgressing the decree； nor
purloining for their own peculiar advantage； which spoils Joshua
delivered to the priests； to be laid up among their treasures。
And thus did Jericho perish。
10。 But there was one Achar； （4） the son ＇of Charmi； the son＇ of
Zebedias； of the tribe of Judah； who finding a royal garment
woven entirely of gold； and a piece of gold that weighed two
hundred shekels； （5） and thinking it a very hard case； that what
spoils he； by running some hazard； had found； he must give away；
and offer it to God； who stood in no need of it； while he that
wanted it must go without it； … made a deep ditch in his own
tent； and laid them up therein； as supposing he should not only
be concealed from his fellow soldiers； but from God himself also。
11。 Now the place where Joshua pitched his camp was called
Gilgal； which denotes liberty； （6） for since now they had passed
over Jordan； they looked on themselves as freed from the miseries
which they had undergone from the Egyptians； and in the
wilderness。
12。 Now； a few days after the calamity that befell Jericho；
Joshua sent three thousand armed men to take Ai； a city situate
above Jericho； but； upon the sight of the people of Ai； with them
they were driven back； and lost thirty…six of their men。 When
this was told the Israelites； it made them very sad； and
exceeding disconsolate； not so much because of the relation the
men that were destroyed bare to them； though those that were
destroyed were all good men； and deserved their esteem； as by the
despair it occasioned； for while they believed that they were
already； in effect； in possession of the land； and should bring
back the army out of the battles without loss； as God had
promised beforehand； they now saw unexpectedly their enemies bold
with success； so they put sackcloth over their garments； and
continued in tears and lamentation all the day； without the least
inquiry after food； but laid what had happened greatly to heart。
13。 When Joshua saw the army so much afflicted； and possessed
with forebodings of evil as to their whole expedition； he used
freedom with God； and said； 〃We are not come thus far out of any
rashness of our own； as though we thought ourselves able to
subdue this land with our own weapons； but at the instigation of
Moses thy servant for this purpose； because thou hast promised
us； by many signs； that thou wouldst give us this land for a
possession； and that thou wouldst make our army always superior
in war to our enemies； and accordingly some success has already
attended upon us agreeably to thy promises； but because we have
now unexpectedly been foiled； and have lost some men out of our
army； we are grieved at it； as fearing what thou hast promised
us； and what Moses foretold us； cannot be depended on by us； and
our future expectation troubles us the more； because we have met
with such a disaster in this our first attempt。 But do thou； O
Lord； free us from these suspicions； for thou art able to find a
cure for these disorders； by giving us victory； which will both
take away the grief we are in at present； and prevent our
distrust as to what is to come。〃
14。 These intercessions Joshua put up to God； as he lay prostrate
on his face： whereupon God answered him； That he should rise up；
and purify his host from the pollution that had got into it； that
〃things consecrated to me have been impudently stolen from me；〃
and that 〃this has been the occasion why this defeat had happened
to them；〃 and that when they should search out and punish the
offender； he would ever take care they should have the victory
over their enemies。 This Joshua told the people； and calling for
Eleazar the high priest； and the men in authority； he cast lots；
tribe by tribe； and when the lot showed that this wicked action
was done by one of the tribe of Judah； he then again proposed the
lot to the several families thereto belonging； so the truth of
this wicked action was found to belong to the family of Zachar；
and when the inquiry was made man by man； they took Achar； who；
upon God's reducing him to a terrible extremity； could not deny
the fact： so he confessed the theft； and produced what he had
taken in the midst of them； whereupon he was immediately put to
death； and attained no more than to be buried in the night in a
disgraceful manner； and such as was suitable to a condemned
malefactor。
15。 When Joshua had thus purified the host； he led them against
Ai： and having by night laid an ambush round about the city； he
attacked the enemies as soon as it was day； but as they advanced
boldly against the Israelites； because of their former victory；
he made them believe he retired； and by that means drew them a
great way from the city； they still supposing that they were
pursuing their enemies； and despised them； as though the case had
been the same with that in the former battle； after which Joshua
ordered his forces to turn about； and placed them against their
front。 He then made the signals agreed upon to those that lay in
ambush； and so excited them to fight； so they ran suddenly into
the city； the inhabitants being upon the walls； nay； others of
them being in perplexity； and coming to see those that were
without the gates。 Accordingly； these men took the city； and slew
all that they met with； but Joshua forced those that came against
him to come to a close fight； and discomfited them； and made them
run away； and when they were driven towards the city； and thought
it had not been touched； as soon as they saw it was taken； and
perceived it was burnt； with their wives and children； they
wandered about in the fields in a scattered condition； and were
no way able to defend themselves； because they had none to
support them。 Now when this calamity was come upon the men of Ai；
there were a great number of children； and women； and servants；
and an immense quantity of other furniture。 The Hebrews also took
herds of cattle； and a great deal of money； for this was a rich
country。 So when Joshua came to Gilgal； he divided all these
spoils among the soldiers。
16。 But the Gibeonites； who inhabited very near to Jerusalem；
when they saw what miseries had happene